Crohn’s vs. Celiac: What’s the Difference?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Crohn’s Disease?What Is Celiac Disease?Crohn’s vs. CeliacDiagnosisFrequently Asked Questions

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

What Is Crohn’s Disease?

What Is Celiac Disease?

Crohn’s vs. Celiac

Diagnosis

Frequently Asked Questions

Crohn’s diseaseandceliac diseaseare bothautoimmune diseasesthat involve inflammation in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.Both conditions can cause a wide range of symptoms, including abdominal pain, cramps, bloody stool, diarrhea, and/or weight loss.

This article will review the similarities and differences between these two conditions as well as the diagnostic process and treatment options for Crohn’s and celiac disease.

An illustration with information about Crohn’s Disease vs. Celiac Disease

In people without Crohn’s, harmless bacteria live in the GI tract and don’t trigger a response from the immune system. In those with Crohn’s, the immune system thinks these bacteria are a threat and launches an immune response. The resulting attack causes inflammation and damage to the intestinal wall. It can also cause ulceration (open sores) and thickening of the intestinal wall.

Men and women are equally likely to have the disease. The condition can run in families, and those with a first-degree relative with Crohn’s have an increased chance of also developing the disease.

Symptoms of Crohn’s

Crohn’s disease can impact any part of the gastrointestinal tract from the mouth to the anus. Each person with Crohn’s may experience different symptoms.

Crohn’s is a chronic condition. The majority of people with the disease will experience periods of remission when symptoms aren’t as noticeable. They’ll also experience periods calledflareswhen their symptoms are active.

Commonsymptomsinclude:

Those with Crohn’s disease may also experience complications due to their condition. These include:

What Happens if Crohn’s Isn’t Treated?

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system overreacts to the protein gluten. When a person with celiac disease consumes food that contains gluten (found in wheat, rye, and barley), the immune system attacks the lining of thesmall intestine.

Celiac disease can run in families. Those with a first-degree relative with celiac disease have a one in 10 chance of also developing celiac disease.

The condition can occur at any age. If left untreated, celiac disease can lead to other autoimmune disorders such astype I diabetesandmultiple sclerosisor serious health complications such as dermatitis herpetiformis (a skin rash),anemia,osteoporosis,infertility,migraines, and even cancer.

What You Should Know About Genetic Testing for Celiac Disease

Symptoms of Celiac Disease

People with celiac disease may experience differentsymptoms. There are more than 200 possible symptoms of celiac disease.

The symptoms of celiac disease vary between adults and children.

Symptoms in childrenmay include:

Symptoms in adults may include:

What Are the Signs of Gluten Sensitivity?

While Crohn’s disease and celiac disease are different conditions, there is a connection between them that goes beyond overlapping symptoms.

Research shows that people with celiac disease are significantly more likely than the general population to also have Crohn’s disease. To a lesser extent, those with Crohn’s are also more likely to have or develop celiac.

Similarities

Differences

While celiac disease and Crohn’s disease have many similarities, the conditions also have key differences. In particular, the conditions have two distinctly different triggers, which means they need to be treated differently.

There’s no single treatment for Crohn’s disease.Treatment optionsmay include:

For those with celiac disease, theonly treatment optionavailable is a lifelong adherence to agluten-free diet.

Typically, celiac disease symptoms disappear entirely within a few months if you completely avoid gluten.

For those with Crohn’s disease, symptoms may flare up at different times, even with treatment.

Does a Gluten-Free Diet Help with Crohn’s Disease?

Both Crohn’s and celiac disease have symptoms that may be similar to other conditions. If either condition is suspected, your healthcare provider will order some tests to rule out other conditions and reach a correct diagnosis.

Diagnosing Crohn’s

There’s no single test that can be used to diagnose Crohn’s disease. A healthcare provider will take a medical history and use the results of medical tests to make a diagnosis.

Possible tests include:

Diagnosing Celiac Disease

Totest for celiac disease, your healthcare provider may order ablood test. People who have celiac disease and also eat gluten have high levels of specific antibodies in their blood. The immune system produces these antibodies in response to gluten, which it views as a threat.

For a celiac disease blood test to be accurate, the person being tested must be on a diet that contains gluten. The antibodies test will be positive in roughly 98% of people with celiac disease who are eating a diet containing gluten.

If the results of the blood test come back positive, your healthcare provider may also suggest abiopsyof your intestine to confirm the diagnosis and assess the damage in your small intestines.

An endoscopic tube and camera enter the digestive tract, allowing your healthcare provider to see inside the small intestine and take a tissue sample to be studied under a microscope.

Summary

Crohn’s and celiac disease are two different autoimmune conditions that attack the gastrointestinal tract. While both conditions present with similar symptoms, including digestive issues, fatigue, and growth problems, they have distinctly different causes and treatments.

A Word From Verywell

Crohn’s disease and celiac disease are both autoimmune diseases that affect the digestive system. These conditions can lead to serious health complications if left untreated, so it’s important to get an accurate diagnosis and start treating the conditions as soon as possible. If you’re concerned that you or a loved one may have celiac disease or Crohn’s disease, make an appointment to speak with your healthcare provider. There are ways to manage both diseases before they cause severe problems.

Frequently Asked QuestionsThose with celiac disease must follow a lifelong gluten-free diet. Naturally gluten-free foods include fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, and dairy.There is no single diet that works for everyone with Crohn’s disease. Your healthcare provider may recommend that you try anelimination dietto see if that helps your symptoms. During a flare, you may also be advised to eat easy-to-digest foods, such as low fiber fruit, lean protein, and refined grains like pasta or white rice.

Those with celiac disease must follow a lifelong gluten-free diet. Naturally gluten-free foods include fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, and dairy.

There is no single diet that works for everyone with Crohn’s disease. Your healthcare provider may recommend that you try anelimination dietto see if that helps your symptoms. During a flare, you may also be advised to eat easy-to-digest foods, such as low fiber fruit, lean protein, and refined grains like pasta or white rice.

13 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Virginia Pascual RDC, pez-Palacios A, s Bodas LM, a Medrano C, Nú N, ñez.Inflammatory bowel disease and celiac disease: Overlaps and differences.World Journal of Gastroenterology. 2014;20(17):4846-4856. doi:10.3748%2Fwjg.v20.i17.4846Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.Causes of Crohn’s Disease.Celiac Disease Foundation.Crohn’s Disease.Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.Signs and symptoms of Crohn’s disease.Celiac Disease Foundation.What is Celiac Disease?Celiac Disease Foundation.Symptoms of Celiac Disease.Shah A, Walker M, Burger D, et al.Link between celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease.J Clin Gastroenterol. 2019;53(7):514-522. doi:10.1097/MCG.0000000000001033Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation.Crohn’s Disease Treatment Options.Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation.Crohn’s disease diagnosis and testing.Celiac Disease Foundation.Testing.Celiac Disease Foundation.Diagnosis.Celiac Disease Foundation.Gluten-free foods.Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation.What Should I Eat?

13 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Virginia Pascual RDC, pez-Palacios A, s Bodas LM, a Medrano C, Nú N, ñez.Inflammatory bowel disease and celiac disease: Overlaps and differences.World Journal of Gastroenterology. 2014;20(17):4846-4856. doi:10.3748%2Fwjg.v20.i17.4846Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.Causes of Crohn’s Disease.Celiac Disease Foundation.Crohn’s Disease.Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.Signs and symptoms of Crohn’s disease.Celiac Disease Foundation.What is Celiac Disease?Celiac Disease Foundation.Symptoms of Celiac Disease.Shah A, Walker M, Burger D, et al.Link between celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease.J Clin Gastroenterol. 2019;53(7):514-522. doi:10.1097/MCG.0000000000001033Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation.Crohn’s Disease Treatment Options.Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation.Crohn’s disease diagnosis and testing.Celiac Disease Foundation.Testing.Celiac Disease Foundation.Diagnosis.Celiac Disease Foundation.Gluten-free foods.Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation.What Should I Eat?

Virginia Pascual RDC, pez-Palacios A, s Bodas LM, a Medrano C, Nú N, ñez.Inflammatory bowel disease and celiac disease: Overlaps and differences.World Journal of Gastroenterology. 2014;20(17):4846-4856. doi:10.3748%2Fwjg.v20.i17.4846Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.Causes of Crohn’s Disease.Celiac Disease Foundation.Crohn’s Disease.Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.Signs and symptoms of Crohn’s disease.Celiac Disease Foundation.What is Celiac Disease?Celiac Disease Foundation.Symptoms of Celiac Disease.Shah A, Walker M, Burger D, et al.Link between celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease.J Clin Gastroenterol. 2019;53(7):514-522. doi:10.1097/MCG.0000000000001033Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation.Crohn’s Disease Treatment Options.Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation.Crohn’s disease diagnosis and testing.Celiac Disease Foundation.Testing.Celiac Disease Foundation.Diagnosis.Celiac Disease Foundation.Gluten-free foods.Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation.What Should I Eat?

Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.Causes of Crohn’s Disease.

Celiac Disease Foundation.Crohn’s Disease.

Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.Signs and symptoms of Crohn’s disease.

Shah A, Walker M, Burger D, et al.Link between celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease.J Clin Gastroenterol. 2019;53(7):514-522. doi:10.1097/MCG.0000000000001033

Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation.Crohn’s Disease Treatment Options.

Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation.Crohn’s disease diagnosis and testing.

Celiac Disease Foundation.Testing.

Celiac Disease Foundation.Diagnosis.

Celiac Disease Foundation.Gluten-free foods.

Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation.What Should I Eat?

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Symptoms of Crohn’s#

Symptoms of Celiac Disease#

Similarities#

Differences#

Diagnosing Crohn’s#

Diagnosing Celiac Disease#

Summary#

A Word From Verywell#